Automatic engraving machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic engraving machine, in which the device, converting the photoelectric current fed from a photo-unit moved along a rotary shaft with an original into electric signals applied to the drive of a tool engraving the rotating printing shaft while moving therealong comprises two channels. The first channel includes a modulator fed with the photoelectric current corresponding to the original and an electronic switch converting the signals fed from the modulator and acting on the drive of the tool. The second channel includes an electronic relay adjusted for a predetermined level of the photoelectric current fed from the photo-unit and electrically connected to the electronic switch of the first channel and through a driven multivibrator with the drive of the tool so that it operates during each intersection of the original boundary by the photo-unit, switching off the first channel and simultaneously triggering the driven multivibrator generating the electric signals corresponding to the boundary of the original.

United States Patent Kotov et al.

[54] AUTOMATIC ENGRAVING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Evgeny Pavlovich Kotov,ulitsa Nedelina, 34, korpus 3, kv. 7; Viktor Vladimirovich Legostov,ulitsa Nedelina, 28, kv. lll; Evgeny Alexeevich Stepanov, ulitsaNedelina, 34, korpus l, kv. lll; Alexandr Mikhailovich Chuchalov,Mozhaiskor shosse, 63, kv. 7; Nikolai Kuzmich Maiorov, ulitsalnitsiativnaya, 3, korpus l, kv. 2; Gennady Pavlovich Merezhko, ulitsaKubinka, l6, korpus 2, kv. 4; Anatoly Semenovich Komarov, ulitsaVeresaeva, l5; Nikolai Georgievich Sosnitsky, ulitsa Grishina, 6, kv. 4,all of Moscow, U.S.S.R.

22 Filed: July 22, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 57,166

52 us. 01. ..l78/6.6 B 51 Int. Cl. .0010 15/02, 1104 1 l/06, 110411 1/24[58] Field of Search ..33/23, 21, 2; 178/66 B [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,548 11/1960 Taudt ..l78/ 6.6 B 2,892,8876/1959 Hell... ..l78/6.6 B

[ 51, Sept. 26, 1972 3,004,100 10/1961 Taudt l 78/6.6 B 3,128,337 4/1964Levine ..l78/6.6 B 3,482,039 12/ I969 Valentin l 78/6.6 B

Primary Examiner-Howard W. Britton Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz &Nissen [5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic engraving machine, in which thedevice,

converting the photoelectric current fed from a photounit moved along arotary shaft with an original into electric signals applied to the driveof a tool engraving the rotating printing shaft while moving therealongcomprises two channels. The first channel includes a modulator fed withthe photoelectric current corresponding to the original and anelectronic switch converting the signals fed from the modulator andacting on the drive of the tool. The second channel includes anelectronic relay adjusted for a predetermined level of the photoelectriccurrent fed from the photo-unit and electrically connected to theelectronic switch of the first channel and through a drivenmultivibrator with the drive of the tool so that it operates v duringeach intersection of the original boundary by the photo-unit, switchingoff the first channel and simultaneously triggering the drivenmultivibrator generating the electric signals corresponding to theboundary of the original.

, 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures p/wm an:

PATENTEDSEPZB me 3.694.570

sum 1 or 2 l AUTOMATIC ENGRAVING MACHINE The present invention relatesto apparatus for making printing plates in textile, polygraphic andother industries and, more particularly, the invention relates toautomatic engraving machines.

Known in the art are automatic engraving machines comprising aphoto-unit with a diaphragm moving along a rotating shaft with anoriginal and sensing through this diaphragm the luminous flux reflectedfrom the original and carrying an information about the original. Thephoto-unit converts the luminous flux into a photoelectric current fedto a device converting the photoelectric current into electric signalsfed to the drive of a tool engraving a revolving printing shaft, whilemoving along this shaft.

' In the known automatic engraving machines the device converting aphotoelectric current into electric signals comprises an amplitude andwidth-pulse modulators and this does not allow one to obtain on theengraving being made a contour line corresponding to the boundary of theoriginal and having a depth differing from that of the engraving.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an automaticengraving machine, which makes it possible to produce on the engravingto be made a contour line corresponding tothe boundary of the originaland being different from the engraving by depth.

This object is accomplished by providing an automatic engraving machinecomprisinga photo-unit with a diaphragm moving along a rotating shaftwith an original and through the above-said diaphragm sensing the lightflux reflected from the original and carrying the information abouttheoriginal, in which case the photo-unit converts the light flux into aphotoelectric current and transfers the latter to a device transformingthe photoelectric current into electric signals fed to the drive of thetool engraving a revolving printing shaft during the movement along thisshaft; according to the invention, the device transforming thephotoelectric current into electric signals comprises two channels, thefirst channel includes a modulator fed with photoelectric current fromthe photo-unit corresponding to the original and an electronic switchconverting the signals fed from the modulator and acting upon the tooldrive, while the second channel includes an electronic relay adjustedfor a prescribed level of the photoelectric current fed from thephoto-unit and electrically connected with the electronic switch of thefirst channel and through a driven multivibrator with the tool drive sothat it operates at each intersection of the boundary of the original bythe photo-unit, thus switching off the first channel and simultaneouslytriggering the driven multivibrator generating electric signalscorresponding to the boundary of the original.

It is expedient that the diaphragm of the photo-unit has at least twoapertures approximately of the same area disposed along the rotatingshaft with the original so that during the intersection of the originalboundary by the photo-unit, the diaphragm apertures are successivelyoverlapped by the original, the electronic relay being adjusted to thephotoelectric current level corresponding to the light flux fed throughone aperture of mine the boundary of the original and to apply it ontothe engraving in the form of points or lines of a predetermined depth.

The present invention may best be understood by reference to thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view, partly in section, of the proposed automaticengraving machine;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the device for converting aphotoelectric current into electric signals in the automatic engravingmachine according to the invention;

H6. 3 is a general view, partly in section, of the tool of the automaticengraving machine according to the invention.

The proposed automatic engraving machine has a frame 1 (FIG. 1) on whichthere is mounted a gearbox 2 used forrotating shaft 3 with a negativeoriginal and a printing shaft 4, on which there is applied a point ordash engraving. v

The frame 1 is provided with guides 5, on which move supports 6 carryinga photo-unit 7 and a tool 8 with a drive 9 engraving the printing shaft4, said photo-unit and tool being capable of moving along the shaft 3and the printing shaft 4.

The photo-unit comprises an optic system 10, a diaphragm 11 and aphotomultiplier l2 converting the luminous flux reflected from theoriginal and fed through the optic system 10 and the diaphragm 11 into aphotoelectric current.

The photo-unit (FIG. 1) is electrically connected with a device 13transforming the photoelectric current into electric signals. Thisdevice 13 comprises two channels. t

The first channel includes a modulator l4 fed with the photoelectriccurrent from the photo-unit 7 corresponding to the original and anelectronic switch 15 controlled by a transmitter 16 and transforming thesignals fed from the modulator l4 and acting upon the drive 9 of thetool 8 through a mixer 17.

The second channel includes an electronic relay 18 adjusted for aprescribed level of the photoelectric current fed from the photo-unit 7and electrically connected to the electronic switch 15 through a drivenmultivibrator l9 and the mixer 17 to the drive 9 of the tool 8 so thatit operates during each intersection of the original boundary by thephoto-unit 7, thus switching off the first channel and simultaneouslytriggering the driven multivibrator l9 generating electric signalscorresponding to the boundary of the original.

The modulator 14 consists of a triode 20 whose cathode is connected to acarrier frequency transformer 21 while the anode is connected to aresistor 22 and a capacitor 23.

The electronic switch 15 consists of triodes 24 and 25 connected inseries. The operating conditions of the triode 24 is set by a divider26. The mixer 17 is connected to the cathode of the triode 24 through acapacitor 27 The grid of the triode 25 is electrically associated withthe transmitter 16.

The modulator 14 may consist of a balanced modulator allowing theengraving to be made both from a negative and positive original.

The electronic relay 18 comprises a hexagrid 28 whose anode is connectedwith a resistor 29 and a Zener diode 30 connected to the grid of thetriode 25. The control grid of the hexagrid 28 is connected to themovable contact of a resistor 31 connected to the output of thephoto-unit 7. Connected to the output grid of the hexagrid 28 is aresistor 32 and a capacitor 33, to which is connected the drivenmultivibrator l9 electrically associated with the grid of the triode 25and with the mixer 17. Connected to the grid of the triode 25 is aresistor 34.

In the described version of the automatic engraving machine thediaphragm 11 (FIG. 1) l) of the photo- I unit 7 has two apertures 35 and36 having an equal area and arranged along the shaft 3with the originalso that during the intersection of the original boundary by thephoto-unit 7, the apertures 35 and 36 of the diaphragm 11 aresuccessively overlapped by the original In this case the electronicrelay 18 (FIG. 2) is adjusted for the level of the photoelectric currentcorresponding to the luminous flux fed through one aperture 35 or 36 orthe diaphragm 11. I

The drive!) (FIG. 3) of the tool 8 comprises an electric magnet 37,interconnected coils 38 mounted with the possibility of axialdisplacement and secured on the diaphragms 39 and a holder 40 of thetool 8 mounted through springs 41.

The proposed automatic engraving machine operates a follows.

The photo-unit 7 (FIG. 1) while moving along the rotating shaft 3 withthe original, through the apertures 35 and 36 of the diaphragmsuccessively senses the luminous flux reflected from the original andcarrying an information about this original, converts the luminous fluxinto a photoelectric current and transfers the latter to the device 13transforming the photoelectric current into electric signals.

The photoelectric current is fed to the grid of the triode 20 (FIG. 2)of the modulator 14 and to the resistor 31 of the electronic relay 18.After passing the modulator 14, the electric signalv corresponding tothe photoelectric current is impressed on the grid of the triode 24 ofthe electronic switch 15. From the output of the electronic switch 13the electric signal corresponding to the original through the capacitor27 is fed in the form of pulses to the mixer 17 and therefrom is fed tothe drive 9 of the tool 8. The duration and frequency of the pulses areset by means of the transmitter 16 which periodically renders the triode25 of the electronic switch conductive and non-conductive. Under theaction of these pulses the tool 8 impresses an engraving on the printingshaft 4.

When a boundary line of the original is intersected, the photo-currentfed to the input of the electronic relay 18 is reduced to a valuepredetermined by resistor 31, and a sudden change of the anode currentis observed in the hexagrid 28. In this case the driven multivibrator 19is triggered, which cuts off the triode 25 of the electronic switch 15,and through the mixer 17 applies a pulse of prescribed magnitude andduration to the drive 9. The tool 8 then engraves an element of acontour line on the printing shaft (roll) 4, the direction of the linebeing close to that of the generatrix of the shaft 4. When thephoto-unit 7 (FIG. 1) intersects the boundary of the original, theapertures 35 and 36 of the diaphragm 11 are successively closed by theoriginal and this changes the photoelectric current through thephotomultiplier 12 from the prescribed value to a half and then to zero(or vice versa depending on the direction of movement of the photo-unit7).

The electronic relay 18 (FIG. 2) through the use of the resistor 31 isadjusted for a half value of the photoelectric current which correspondsto the luminous flux fed to the photomultiplier 12 from the originalthrough one aperture 35 or 36 of the diaphragm 11. At all changes of thephotoelectric current from the prescribed value to a half, theelectronic switch 15 is controlled by transmitter 16 while at the momentof operation of the electronic relay 18 the electronic switch 15 iscontrolled by the multivibrator 19. At any change in the photoelectriccurrent from zero to a half of the prescribed value, the anode currentin the hexagrid 28 is very low, while the anode voltage exceeds thebreakdown voltage of the Zener diode 30. In this case the Zener diode 30conducts the current and opens the triode 25 of the electronic switch 15(in this case the transmitter 16 does not affect the operation of theelectronic switch 15). Under these operating conditions the signal fedfrom the modulator 14 is applied to the mixer 17. Under the action ofthis signal the tool 8 makes a contour line of the engraving in adirection perpendicular to the generatrix of the shaft 4.

The electric signals fed from the mixer 17 to the drive 9 of the tool 8pass through the coils 38 (FIG. 3) and interact with the field of theelectric magnet 37. Due to this interaction the coils 38 move in thedirection to the printing shaft 4 andpush the holder 40 to the tool 8with a force proportional to the value of the signal fed to the coils38. The holder 40 is returned to the initial position by the springs 41.As a result, an element of the original image is-engraved on theprinting shaft 4. g

The proposed automatic engraving machine makes it possible to producepoint and dash engravings with clearcut contour lines of a predetermineddepth throughout the whole perimeter of the engraving on materialshaving Brinell hardness up to 130 kglmm This machine can be used formakingengraving with a depth of up to 0.3 mm with a resolution of 12 tolines per centimeter.

The printing shafts engraved by means of the proposed automaticengraving machine can be used for printing in textile and polygraphicindustry as well as for stamping and coloring a metal foil, syntheticfilms, wall paper and artificial leathers.

We claim:

1. An automatic engraving machine comprising, in combination; a frame; aprinting shaft rotatably mounted on said frame; a tool mounted on saidframe for reciprocal motion along said printing shaft; a drive means forsaid tool; a shaft supporting an original rotatably mounted on saidframe; a photo-unit mounted on said frame and adapted to move along saidoriginal-supporting shaft; an optical system for said photo-unit forpassing luminous flux reflected from said original upon movement of saidphoto-unit along said original-supporting shaft; a diaphragm for saidphotounit positioned behind said optical system in the light path of theluminous flux reflected from said original; a photo-multiplier for saidphoto-unit positioned behind said diaphragm in the light path of saidluminous flux for sensing said luminous flux and converting the latterinto photo-electric current; means mounted on said frame and beingelectrically connected with said photounit for converting thephoto-electric current emitting from said photo-multiplier into electricsignals, said means comprising two channels; a first of said channelsincluding a modulator connected to said photo-multiplier and receivingthe photo-electric current from said photo-multiplier corresponding tosaid original; an electronic switch for said first channel beingconnected to said modulator and to said drive means for said tool forconverting the signals emanating from said modulator into signalsactuating said drive means the second of said channels including anelectronic relay connected to said photo-multiplier and being adjustedfor a preset level of the photo-electric current emitted from saidphoto-multiplier, said electronic relay being electrically connectedwith said electronic switch and being operative at every change of thephoto-electric current corresponding to an intersection by saidphoto-multiplier of a boundary line on the original, and so as to actupon said electronic switch for preparing the latter to thetransformation of signals fed from said modulator; the second of saidchannels including a driven multivibrator connected to said electronicrelay, to said switch, and to said driving means for the tool, and beingoperative at each switch-over of said electronic relay so as to act uponsaid electronic switch by interruption of the signals fed from saidelectronic switch to said driving means, and simultaneously beingadapted to act upon said driving means for the tool whereby said toolengraves an element of a contour line on said printing shaft duringrotation of said last-mentioned shaft.

2. An automatic engraving machine according to claim 1, wherein saidphoto-unit diaphragm includes at least two apertures of approximatelyequal cross-section located along the axis of said original-supportingshaft, said aperture, during the intersection of a boundary of saidoriginal by said photo-unit upon movement along said original shaft,being successively overlapped by said original, said electronic relaybeing adjusted for a level of said photo-electric current correspondingto the luminous flux passing through one of said diaphragm apertures, soas to ensure formation of a contour line in a direction extendingperpendicular to the generatrix of said printing shaft.

3. An automatic engraving machine according to claim 1, wherein thefirst of said channels is provided with a sensor, said sensor beingelectrically connected with said electronic switch and being adapted toact upon the latter by closing and opening said switch at a presetfrequency after operation of said electronic relay.

1. An automatic engraving machine comprising, in combination; a frame; aprinting shaft rotatably mounted on said frame; a tool mounted on saidframe for reciprocal motion along said printing shaft; a drive means forsaid tool; a shaft supporting an original rotatably mounted on saidframe; a photo-unit mounted on said frame and adapted to move along saidoriginal-supporting shaft; an optical system for said photo-unit forpassing luminous flux reflected from said original upon movement of saidphotounit along said original-supporting shaft; a diaphragm for saidphoto-unit positioned behind said optical system in the light path ofthe luminous flux reflected from said original; a photomultiplier forsaid photo-unit positioned behind said diaphragm in the light path ofsaid luminous flux for sensing said luminous flux and converting thelatter into photo-electric current; means mounted on said frame andbeing electrically connected with said photo-unit for converting thephoto-electric current emitting from said photo-multiplier into electricsignals, said means comprising two channels; a first of said channelsincluding a modulator connected to said photo-multiplier and receivingthe photo-electric current from said photo-multiplier corresponding tosaid original; an electronic switch for said first channel beingconnected to said modulator and to said drive means for said tool forconverting the signals emanating from said modulator into signalsaCtuating said drive means the second of said channels including anelectronic relay connected to said photo-multiplier and being adjustedfor a preset level of the photo-electric current emitted from saidphoto-multiplier, said electronic relay being electrically connectedwith said electronic switch and being operative at every change of thephoto-electric current corresponding to an intersection by saidphoto-multiplier of a boundary line on the original, and so as to actupon said electronic switch for preparing the latter to thetransformation of signals fed from said modulator; the second of saidchannels including a driven multivibrator connected to said electronicrelay, to said switch, and to said driving means for the tool, and beingoperative at each switch-over of said electronic relay so as to act uponsaid electronic switch by interruption of the signals fed from saidelectronic switch to said driving means, and simultaneously beingadapted to act upon said driving means for the tool whereby said toolengraves an element of a contour line on said printing shaft duringrotation of said last-mentioned shaft.
 2. An automatic engraving machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said photo-unit diaphragm includes atleast two apertures of approximately equal cross-section located alongthe axis of said original-supporting shaft, said aperture, during theintersection of a boundary of said original by said photo-unit uponmovement along said original shaft, being successively overlapped bysaid original, said electronic relay being adjusted for a level of saidphoto-electric current corresponding to the luminous flux passingthrough one of said diaphragm apertures, so as to ensure formation of acontour line in a direction extending perpendicular to the generatrix ofsaid printing shaft.
 3. An automatic engraving machine according toclaim 1, wherein the first of said channels is provided with a sensor,said sensor being electrically connected with said electronic switch andbeing adapted to act upon the latter by closing and opening said switchat a preset frequency after operation of said electronic relay.